For many Michiganders, the start of firearm hunting season is like a state holiday. Today, tens of thousands of hunters hope they'll be successful as they head outdoors in search of deer.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) hopes the successful hunters will stop by one of their deer check stations before having their deer processed. It's a good way for the DNR to keep tabs on the health of Michigan's deer herds.
Chad Fedewa is manning the the Rose Lake Check Point Station near East Lansing, and if you bring your deer his way (or to any other check point station), they will inspect it to find out how old it is, log where it was killed, and if it's a buck they will measure the antlers. If you're in one of the 17 counties that are being monitored for chronic wasting disease, this is mandatory but if you're not it's purely voluntary.
Listen to the full interview above to find out how the warm weather will affect the season and how the DNR determines the age of the deer and what you'll get if you bring your deer to a check point station.
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